Electric signal.



W. MLBOWLES.

ELECTRIC-SIGNAL.

APPLICATION man NOV'. 21. 1916.

1,275,17 9. Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

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W. M. BOWLES.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION map NOV. 21. I916.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

on, STORAGE COMPANY, I c., or sa-PULrA, OKLAHOMA.

nnno'rnio SIGNAL.

7 Specification of Letters Patent. Original application filed December 31, 1915, Serial No. 69,609. Divided and this application filed November 21., 1916. Serial No. 132,669.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM a citizen of the United States, residingat Sapulpa, in the county ofv Creek and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to signal devices for use in connection with the safety vents for crude oil storage tanks, and has as its object the provision of means for giving both an audible and visible signal in the eventv of the vent pipe being struck by lightning and the safety valve becoming closed, so that the attendant may be apprised of the closing of the said safety valve within the pipe and may restore the device to its normal condition.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vent pipe embodying the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the said pipe, the parts being shown in normal" positions; v

.Fig. 3 is a-view similar to Fig,2 illustrating the positions of theparts after the pipe has been struck by lightning. In the drawings,the'numeral 1 indicates in general a crude oil storage tank which tank, of course,may be of any desired form and capacity and-thenumeral 2 indicates a closurefor. the filling opening in the top of the tank. Leading fromthe top of the'tank to the vent pipe which is'to be hereinafter specifically-described and whichis located at any desired. distance from the? tank is a pipeline 3 whichserves to carry. off the gases. rising from the oil within theitank andto convey thesegases to the said vent P1p v The vent pipe mentioned above is preferably mounted at its lowerend upon a foundations of concrete or'any other suitable material and this pipe is preferably built upifrom a number of sections connected in a manner. to be presently explained, the lowermost one of these sections beingin'dicated by the numeral. 5 and being in communica tion at' its lower end with an opening 61in the foundation 4, this opening providingv for drainage of the vent pipe both as concerns t e collection of rain water therein and the collection of any condensed gaseous vapors. Apipe section 7 is mounted uponthe pipe section 5 and thesaid sections 5 and? are M. BowLns,

v11 surrounded by .a valve.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918-."

preferably provided with flanges bolted or otherwise secured together, as indicated at 8. A pipe section 9 is mounted upon the pipe section 7 and another pipe section 10 is mounted upon the section 9. In one side, the pipe section 7 is formedwith an opening seat 12 disposed at anangle with relation to the axis of the pipe, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. J

The numeral 21 indicates a valve which is pivotally mounted as at 22 at the upper side of the valve seat 12 within the pipe sec- .tion 7 and this valve is normally supported in open position in a manner which will now bedescribed and is adapted, when released,

to fall by gravity to a position against the seat 12 and thereby close the opening llj which establishes communication between the pipe line 3 and the interior of the vent pipe. In order that access may be had to the valve 21 a hand hole 23 is provided in the-:pipe section 7 opposite the said valve seat 12 andis'closed by a suitable cover 24. Secured at their lower ends to .the pipe section 10 and projecting upwardly in spaced relationv above the said pipe section are brackets 25 provided at their upper ends with-binding posts 26 to which aresecured the ends of a fuse wire 27, this wire extending' between'the said upper ends of the brackets25 and, consequently diametrically above the upper end ofthe pipe section 10.

A wirefor other suitableflexible or. semiflexible element 28 is connected at vits upper end to the fuse wire 27 and at its lower end to the valve 21 and serves to supportthe said valve normally in open position, as above stated. In order that the pipesections 7 and -9 may be insulated from each other, and-in order that: the pipe sections 9 and 10 maybe insulated from each, other, insulatingzgaskets 29 are interposedbetween the-connected ends ofthe said sections re spectively and the bolts 30 whichjsecureth'e flanges atthe said ends of the sections together are surrounded by insulating sleeves 31.- To insure against the gases'issuing from the'vent pipe being ignitedin the lower portion of thepipe a foraminous screen 32 is interposed between the ends of the pipe sections 9 and 10 and a similar screen 33 is arranged at the upper end of the section 10, the wire 28 passing through openings in the said screens; It will now be-und-erstood that grounded through should lightning strike the vent pipe the charge would, since thepipe sections 9 and 10 are insulatedwith respect to each other would be fused. Thevalve would, there fore; be allowed-to drop *by gravity to closed position. Therefore, even should the'gases at the upper end of the pipe section 10 be ignited, theflaniewould not reach to the gases of" the lowerportion of th'e vent "pipe nor to the pipe line 3. Shouldjthe valve 21 be closed in the ab'ove manner and'should theattendant fail to properlyfrestore' the same to open position the Walls of the tank 1 will not be subjected to external pressure in the event that oil is pui'nped froin' the tank, inasmuch as when a partial vacuuin is created within the tank in the puinpingoperation," the'valve '17 'will be lifted-from its seat and the air Will-enter the pipe line 3 and be conducted to the tank.

In order thatbo'th an audible and a visible signal may be given'to indicate the closing.

ofthe valve 21, means are pr'ovidedwhich' will now be described. Mounted for rock ing movement, as at34, inthe brackets. 25 is'a'shaft provided at one end vvit'h ahead 36 to which is connected" the inner end -of a rod'37' carrying'at itsouter end' a semaphore 381" The otherend of the shaft'35is providedwith an arm 39 carrying a weight 40"l1eld"at adjustment thereon by means of a set'sc'rew41: An M11142 is 's'ecu'redto the shaft 35 between the brackets 25 and is provided with a hooked end 43 which engages with thefuse-wire 27. In the normalpo's'i tion of the parts'thearm 39is incline'd 'upward'ly and at an angle to" the vertical""and' consequently the WeightLO eXerts a normal tendency to swingthis arm in a downward direction. Also in the normal position of the parts the semaphore 37' extendsin a general downward direction but it will be un der'sto'od that 1n event of fusing of the wire 27 the'shaft 35 will no longer be restrained against rotary movement and will be rotated through the downward swinging movement of "thearin 39;the' semaphore being *at" the same tiI'Iie swun upwardly to about the position 'shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings-in which po'sition'it will serve as a visible sig-' nal to the attendant that'the valve 21 is in closed positi'onf' The numeral l l' indicates a bracket pref erably loc'ated'at the lower end of that but of the brackets'25 next adjacent which the 21111139 is located }and 'thisbracket 'supf ports a '-contactplate 45 "insulated from the bracket as' indicated at 465' Afconductor wire 471s connected to the'contact plate 45' an'd'to one poleofabattery'48 and'awire 49' leads fro'm the other pole {of the "battery 1 to a =bell or annunciator-indioated at 5055 other one of 'thebrack from-the arm 39 and is bell orannunciator 50,

' position-f a fusible elementsupported above A wire 51 is connectedelectrically with the ets"25' or some other portion ofthe device which is not insulated connected also with t hebell 50. Thus when the wire 27 is fused and, the arm 39 swings downwardly nthe weight40" will strike against the contact plate 45 and complete the cir'cuitthroughthe giving an audible signal that the valve 21 is closed I I The present applicatioiifis division'of my copending application for patenti-on safety vents forcrude'o'il storage "tanlis',- fil'ed December 31, 1915 Serial'Nd' 69,609. 7 Having thus described "the" invention, what is olainie'das new is! 1. Ina device of the classnescribedgfla vent pipe; a valve withinlthe"pipehaving anori-iial tendency toward movement to closed position, a fusible element; 3 means support 5 5 ing the said element and engtgedwith'the* extremities thereof; connection between the said element-"and thevalve' normally hold; ing thevalve in open position, the saidco1inection being engaged with the intermediate portion of the said element, a rotatableele m'ent; means carried by the said rotatable element and projectingfinfront 'of' the' said fusible element "for normally holding the rotatable 2 element gagainst ro'tation', and a sig nal adapted to be rendered "active upon movement of thesaid movable element-t 2. "In a device of'the classde'scribedfl vent "the'pipeghavin j a nor vent pipe, 'a valve "within the pipe having ja' nor mal tendency toward movement tof closed the pipe" to extend diainetrially thereofi" connection between the said element and iftlie 1'15 vanenormal-iy holding the valve iif open position, a rotary shaft, an 'arincarriedby shaft and normally projecting in front the {said fusible element and constituting a means "for 'arestrainin thd's liiift froinrota tion; and a signalarranged'forf'operation'by the said 'shaTft'F 1 4. In a device of the"class described, a vent pipe," a-valve within the-pipe having a nonnal" tendenc j toward Ino'v'e'm'entv "to close'd'position', a fusible element; con'nectiiyn between the said elem nt and =t1ieya1venor= m'a-lly" holding the valve in open position; a rotary shaft normally restrained from movement by" the saidfus'ible 'elemeiit; air

electric signal circuit includinga contact,

insulated from the pipe and shaft, an arm upon the shaft, and means adjustable upon the said arm and in the said circuit, the shaft being movable to engage the said means with the contact for closing the signal circuit through the shaft upon the release of the said shaft by fusing of the said element.

5. In a device of the character described, a vent pipe, spaced. arms supported thereby, a fusible element supported between the said arms, a valve within the pipe having a normal tendency toward movement to closed position, connection between the said element and the valve normally holding the valve in open position, a shaft mounted upon the said arms, means carried by the shaft and projecting in front of the said fusible element for normally restraining the shaft against rotation, and a signal arranged for actuation by the said shaft.

6. In a device of the character described, a vent pipe, spaced arms upstanding from the upper extremity of the said pipe, a fusible element extendin diametrically of the pipe between the said arms and detachably engaged at its extremities with the upper terminals of the arms, a valve within the pipe having a normal tendency toward movement to closed position, a connection between the said element and the valve normally holding the valve in open position, a shaft rotatable upon the said arm, means carried by the shaft and projecting in front of the said fusible element for normally restraining the shaft against rotation, and a signal arranged for actuation by the said shaft. a

7. In a device of the character described, a vent pipe, a valve within the pipe having a normal tendency toward closed position, a fusible element, connection between the said element and the valve normally holding the valve in open position, a rotatable shaft normally restrained from movement by the said fusible element, an electric signal circuit including a contact insulated from the pipe and shaft, and a weighted element associated with the said shaft and included in the circuit, the said weighted element normally tending to rotate the shaft for movement to engage with the said contact.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM M. BOWLES. [1..s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." v 

